THE Scottish Executiveís case against banning Genetically Modified crop
trials was "in tatters" last night, according to green campaigners, after
Belgium blocked a trial amid fears it could damage surrounding plant life.

Friends of the Earth Scotland said the case showed that rural development
minister Ross Finnie had the power to ban similar experiments in Scotland,
a power he claims he does not hold.

FoE revealed that Belgium's new environment minister Magda Aelvoet had
invoked the "precautionary principle" to block five field trials of GM
oilseed rape.

She ruled that it was "impossible" to stop them leaking genetically
modified material into the environment, despite strict measures designed
to protect surrounding wildlife.

Aelvoet warned GM developers that she will introduce a change in her
governmentís policy on the issue, with future trials subject to much tougher
rules.

FoE Scotland is now calling on Finnie to follow suit.

Kevin Dunion, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:
"The new minister has said the precautionary principle can be used to rule
that any GM crop which will flower can be stopped. In Scotland that means
oilseed rape at least.

"The issue here is the degree to which the safeguards we have in place
are sufficient to stop cross-contamination.

"The Belgians have used existing legislation to protect their environment,
so we would like to see Ross Finnie grasp the nettle and do the same."

Finnie insists, however, that European Union regulations prevented him
halting the GM crop trials without a watertight scientific justification.

A spokesman for Finnie last night claimed the Belgian decision made
no difference to the ministerís position.

"It is important to remember that the Belgian minister will probably
be acting on formal scientific evidence relating specifically to the trials
in that country," he said.

"That evidence will not have a bearing on the trials in Scotland.

"It is all done under the same rules. Itís not as though we have woken
up and all the rules governing this have changed."